| The Old Grey Whistle Test | |
|---|---|
 One of 1970s opening titles | |
| Also known as | Whistle Test (1983–88) |
| Created by | Rowan Ayers Mike Appleton |
| Presented by | Richard Williams Ian Whitcomb Bob Harris Annie Nightingale Andy Kershaw David Hepworth Mark Ellen Richard Skinner Ro Newton |
| Opening theme | "Stone Fox Chase" – Area Code 615 (1971–83) |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Producer | Mike Appleton |
| Running time | 40–60 minutes |
| Production company | BBC Television |
| Original release | |
| Network | BBC2 (1971–88) BBC Four (One-off special, 2018) |
| Release | 21 September 1971 – 1 January 1988 |
| Infobox instructions (only shown in preview) | |
The Old Grey Whistle Test (sometimes abbreviated to Whistle Test or OGWT) is a British television music show. The show was devised by BBC producer Rowan Ayers, commissioned by David Attenborough[1] and aired on BBC2 from 1971 to 1988. It took over the BBC2 late-night slot from Disco 2, which ran between September 1970 and July 1971, while continuing to feature non-chart music. The original producer, involved in an executive capacity throughout[2] the show's entire history, was Michael Appleton.
According to presenter Bob Harris, the programme derived its name from a Tin Pan Alley phrase from years before. When they got the first pressing of a record they would play it to people they called the old greys – doormen in grey suits. Any song the doormen could remember and whistle, having heard it just once or twice, had passed the old grey whistle test.[3]
On 23 February 2018, a one-off live three-hour special of The Old Grey Whistle Test was broadcast on BBC Four, hosted by Harris to mark 30 years since the final episode had been broadcast.[4]
- ^ "Sir David Attenborough: 'This awful summer? We've only ourselves to blame...'". The Independent. 13 July 2012. Archived from the original on 18 June 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
- ^ Credits of the programme
- ^ Spencer Leigh, Frank Sinatra: An Extraordinary Life, chapter 5 (Carmarthen: McNidder & Grace, 2015. ISBN 9780857160867).
- ^ UTTON, DOMINIC (22 February 2018). "Witness the revival of The Old Grey Whistle Test". Retrieved 26 March 2018.